Container closing and stapling apparatus



E. SHEPARD. CONTAINER CLOSING AND STAPLING APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED OCT. 19, I920- v Patented May 17,1921.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19, 1920.

Patented May 17, 1921.

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CONTAINER CLOSING AND STAPLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 1921.

Application filed October 19, 1920. Serial No. 418,017.

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Be it known that I, ELLIOTT SHEPARD, citizen. of the United States, residing at Fresno, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Container Closing and Stapling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for closing the foldable ends of cartons or containers, and for stapling or securing the same in interfolded closed position.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus adapted for receiving a filled carton with the end closure flaps in interfolded relation and provided with means at a distant point for securing the flaps together by staples or other means passed through the thickness of the flaps and preferably clenched.

A further object is to provide an apparatus wherein the securing of the flaps in closed position is accomplished during the compressing together of the upper longitudinal side edges of the carton insuring a. relatively flat upper surface of the closed carton when removed from the apparatus.

A further object is to provide aconstruc tion which is automatic in its Various operations and movements and which is capable of handling a relatively large capacity of cartons or containers, and which requires but two operators at the maximum thereby reducing the cost of folding the carton ends in closed position and securing the same in such position.

Vith the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention disclosing the stapling mechanism, the rotating table, and the means for intermittently r0- tating said table by a step movement.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 viewed from the carton discharge end ratus.

Fig. 3 1s a view in top plan of the inven- 131011 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 1s a view in detail of the clutch control mechanism for the stapling head.

F 1g. 5 is a diagrammatic view in plan of a carton w th the end closure members in full open pos1t1on.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with certain of the end closure members in folded position disclosing the clenching anvil, overlying one member and projecting beneath another.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the end members forming the carton closure in closed position with certain of said members overlying the anvil.

F1516 is a top plan view partly in section disclosing the plunger for removing the carton from the table by intermittent movement during the stapling of the end closure flaps thereof.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8 illustrating more particularly the carton removing plunger and its operating cam and the cam controlling stapling member.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10 10 of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a view in detail front elevation of the mechanism for compressing the upper longitudinal side edges of the carton during the stapling thereof.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, 1 is a pedestal formed with a flanged base 2 and preferably provided at its upper end with an enlarged annular portion 3, upwardly from which extends a vertical post 4 terminating in a laterally bent tubular supporting arm 5. The circular table 6 which is provided in its center with an opening 7 rotates about the portion 4 of the member 1 and rests at its center on the upstanding ring 8 on the upper end of the portion 3. An annular flange 9 extending downwardly over the surface of the upper edge of the portion 3 prevents lateral movement of the table 6 relatively to the member 4. The table 6 is provided on its upper surface with spaced pairs of radially disposed container guide flanges 10, and with the inner end of each pair of flanges registers an opening 11 formed in the vertical annular wall 12 projecting upwardly from the inner periphery of the appaof the table 6. The wall 12 centrally above each of said pairs of container guide flanges 10 carries an anvil 13. ported ends of said anvils terminate adjacent the periphery of the table 6, as in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Supported by the standard 1 and covering approximately one half of the area of the table 6, above the anvils 13, is a cover flap retaining plate 14, the edge 15 of which is adapted to be slightly bent upwardly, as at 16 in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The containers 9, with their end flaps folded in the manner illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings, are successively positioned on the table 6 between the pairs of guide flanges 10 at the feeding station A, either manually or by any suitable mechanism, with one of the anvils 13 extended beneath both of the side flaps and one of the end flaps. On the rotation of the table 6 by the hereinafter described mechanism, the positioned containers are moved beneath the flap retaining plate 14 which holds or retains the closure flaps in overlapping closed position during the conveying of the containers from the feeding station A to the discharge station B at a point diametrically opposite said station A.

T ransversely of the member 1 beneath the table 6 extends a rotatable drive shaft 171'0- tatable in bearings 18, Fig. 2 of the drawings, and carrying on one end the belt wheels 19 and 20. The shaft 17 carries a gear 21 intermeshing with the gear 22 on a driven shaft 23, also extending transversely of the tubular pedestal above the shaft 17. The shaft 23 on one end carries a crank 24 mounting a crank pin 25, and said pin in its rotation is adapted to contact with the parallel spaced downwardly extending table rotating pins 26 depending from the under surface of said table 6 throughout its circumference.

It will be apparent, particularly from the illustration in Fig. 1, that the pins 26 are placed sufliciently close to enable the crank pin 25 on each upward movement of the crank 24 to fall slightly in front thereof and to rotate said table in an intermittent manner on each one half revolution of the shaft 23.

Mounted to reciprocate transversely of the pedestal 1 in guides 27 is a container expellinig plunger 28, the free end 29 of which is adapted for registering with successive openings 11 on the completion of each successive intermeshing stepped rotation of the table 6 to present a successive container to the discharge station B. To the rearof said plunger 28 is connected the long leg 30 of a bell crank lever fulcrumed on a support 31 and-to the short leg 32 of which is attached a flexible member 33 carrying a rod 34 longitudinally movable in guides 35 The free unsup-.

on the exterior of the pedestal 1, Fig. 1 of the drawings, said rod supporting a return weight 36. A short arm 37 depends from the bell crank in line with the leg 30 and carries a roller 38 disposed to ride on the periphery of an operating cam 39 secured to rotate with the shaft 23. The cam 39 is provided with a mutilated surface 40 which is disposed relatively to said shaft and to the position of the member 24 thereof to co-act with the roller 38 immediately on the table 6 arriving at a point of rest, and said mutilated surface 40 is so fashioned as to impart an intermittent outward step movement to the plunger 28 in its outward stroke of reciprocation, so that the receptacle engaged thereby will be pushed or conveyed from the table and longitudinally of the guides 10 by an intermittent step movement. From the peak 41 of the cam 39, the cam surface is abruptly rounded to its point of intersection with the shaft 23 to insure aquick return of the plunger 28 in its reciprocating movement, and said weight 36 maintains the roller 38 in contact with said abrupt surface returning said plunger to its retracted position, as in Fig. 9.

The supporting arm 5 mounts the continuously operating motor 42, the armature of which carries a pinion 43 having geared connection with a gear 44, the hub 45 of which rot-ates freely on a shaft 46, Fig. 4 of the drawings, extending longitudinally within the arm 5. 47 indicates conventionally one embodiment of the well known stapling machine termed a Morris head, and a detailed description of which is not thought to be necessary in connection with the present application, as the construction of the device itself is well known to those versed in the present art. The Morris head is an intermittently operated machine, and on each complete revolution of the shaft 46, said machine inserts a holding staple in the material desired. The Morris head carried by the free end of the arm 5 overlies an opening in the plate 14 at the station B. The shaft 46 is provided adjacent the inner periphery of the hub 45 with a dog receiving depression 48 into which is adapted to project a clutch dog 49 pivotally mounted as at 50 in an opening in the hub 45. Disposed adjacent to the periphery of the hub 45 is a clutch throw out cam 51, Fig. 4, movable to and from the hub 45 by the reciprocation of its supporting shaft 52 sliding in its guides 53, the shaft at its lower end being bent and carryinlg a roller 54 resting on the surface of a controlling cam 55. The cam 55 for approximately one half of its diameter is provided with a plurality of depressions 56 in with the cam 39. The arrangement of the depressions 56 in the cam 55 is such that on each complete cycle of rotation of the shaft 23, successive depressions 56 will be presented to the roller 54 intermediate the presentation of the mutilated portions 40 of the cam 39 to the roller 38. This operation owing to the constant rotation of the armature shaft 43 causes an interruption ofthe engagement of the clutch pawl 49 in its slot 48 during the successive intermittent projections of the container in its movement laterally off of the table at the discharge station B. This operation also causes intermittent actuation of the Morris head during the intervals of rest of the container during its movement causing a row of holding staples to be inserted through the overlapping fiaps forming the closure therefor.

To insure a relatively flat top for the closed and stapled container, I compress the upper longitudinal side edges of the container together during the stapling operation and the discharge of the container from .the table, and to accomplish this result,

employ the following mechanism A stub shaft 57 is disposed longitudinally beneath the arm 5, and has geared connection with the shaft 46 as at 58. The shaft 57 carries a pinion 59 engaging a suitable gear 60 formed in the contracted hub portion of a suitable spool 62 carrying opposite side flanges 63 adapted to bear on the upper longitudinal side edges of the container, as in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

The flanges 63 are interrupted, as at 64, to form a relatively flat place on the spool, and the operation of the spool 62 in its rotation is so timed by the gear mechanism 58 as to present this flat portion in a horizontal position downwardly on each successive cycle of rotation of the table, permitting succeeding containers to pass beneath the spool. The operation of the spool is also timed to rotate with the container in its movement longitudinally off of its associated anvil and in its movement compresses the longitudinal side edges of the container toward each other at the time the securing staples are inserted therethrough.

I claim 1. An apparatus for stapling container flaps together when the same are folded one overlying the other, said apparatus comprising a movable support on which the container rests, means for intermittently moving the support, a clenching anvil movable with the support and over which said flaps are folded, a stapling machine into cooperation with which the container is moved on the intermittent movement of the support, means for intermittently moving the container from said support when the same is at aperiod of rest and longitudinally of said anvil, and means for operating said stapling machine to insert a retaining staple through the said flaps and into cOntact with said anvil for the clenching thereof during the interval of rest of the container in its movement longitudinally of the anvil.

2. An apparatus for stapling together container closure flaps folded into closed overlapping relation, the same consisting of a container supporting base, a clenching anvil overlying the same and over which the said flaps are adapted to be folded, a stapling machine overlying said base and beneath which the container is adapted for movement, a reciprocating member adapted for outward intermittent movement for displacing said container from its base and moving the same longitudinally of said anvil, means for moving said member outwardly by su ccessive intermittent steps, and means for intermittently operating said stapling machine during the successive intervals of rest of the carton for inserting successive retaining staples through said overlapping flaps and into contact with said anvil for the clenching thereof.

3. An apparatus for stapling together container closure flaps folded into closed overlapping relation, the same consisting of a clenching anvil for lying immediately beneath said overlapping flaps and from over which said flaps are removable by an endwise movement of the container, a stapling machine overlying said overlapping flaps, means for intermittently moving said container longitudinally of said anvil, means for intermittently operating said stapling machine to insert a retaining staple through said overlapping flaps and into contactwith said anvil for the clenching thereof during the successive intervals of rest of the container in its movement longitudinally of the anvil, and means for forcing the upper longitudinal side edges of the container together during the movement of the same longitudinally of the anvil.

4. An apparatus for the described purpose including a container supporting base, a clenching anvil supported at one end and projecting at its 'free end over said base and over which the container closing flaps are adapted to be folded in overlapping relation, means for inserting retaining members through said overlapping flaps at in tervals throughout the length thereof and into contact with the anvil, means for forcing the longitudinal upper side edges of the container together during the stapling together of the flaps-thereof, and means for moving the container longitudinally of the anvil and for discharging the same from the said base.

5. An apparatus for the described purpose including a container supporting base, a clenching anvil supported at one end and projecting at its free end over said base and over which the container closing flaps are 130 adapted to be folded in overlapping relation, means for inserting retaining means through said overlapping flaps throughout the length thereof, means for forcing the upper longitudinal side edges of the container together during the securing together of the overlapping flaps thereof, and means for moving the container longitudinally of the anvil and for discharging the same from said base.

6. An apparatus for the described purpose including a supporting post, a container supporting base rotatable about the same, a plurality of clenching anvils carried by said base and disposed radially in spaced relation above the same, a fixed cover flap retaining plate overlying said anvil for retaining the folded overlapping flaps in substantial contacting relation over their associated anvils during the movement of the base, a stapling member overlying said base, an arm carrying the same, means for intermittently rotating said base to present successive anvils with the folded overlapping flaps overlying the same beneath said machine, a plunger for operating radially of the base and longitudinally of each anvil for moving the containers longitudinally of their associated anvils and for discharging the same from said base, means for moving said plunger outwardly by successive steps on the registering of a container therewith and during successive periods of rest of the base, and means for intermittently operating said stapling means during the periods of rest of said plunger in its outward movement to insert successive staples into and through said cover flaps for the securing of the same in closed overlapping relation.

7. An apparatus for the described purpose including a supporting post, a container supporting base rotatable about the same, a plurality of clenching anvils carried by said base and disposed radially in spaced relation above the same, a fixed cover flap retaining plate overlying said anvil for retaining the folded overlapping flaps in substantial contacting relation over their associated anvils during the movement of the base, a stapling member overlying said base,

an arm carrying the same, means for intermittently rotating said base "to present successive anvils with the folded overlapping flaps overlying the same beneath said machine, a plunger for operating radially of the base and longitudinally of each anvil for moving the containers longitudinally of their associated anvils and for discharging the same from said base, means for moving said plunger outwardly by successive steps on the registering of a container therewith and during successive periods of rest of the base, means for intermittently operating said stapling means during the periods of rest of said plunger in its outward movement to insert successive staples into and through said cover flaps for the securing of the same in closed overlapping relation, and a compressing roller operating on opposite upper side edges of the container beneath said stapling machine for compressing the longitudinal upper side edges thereof toward each other during the stapling together of the flaps thereof.

8. An apparatus for the described purpose including a movable container supporting base, a plurality of clenching anvils associated at spaced intervals therewith and overlying the same, means for supporting said anvils at one end to move the same with said base, a stapling machine within the path of movement of said base and beneath which said anvils are adapted for successive movement with the container end closing flaps folded in overlapping relation above said respective anvils, means for intermittently moving said base to position successive containers beneath said stitching machine, means for removing said containers ELLIOTT SHEPARD. 

